Obituary: Avonelle Stevens

Avonelle Stevens was born Sept. 25, 1923, in Centerville, Iowa, and at the age of 88 after a long illness she was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012. Her given name at birth was Margaret Avonelle Smith, but all of her life she was known by her middle name, Avonelle.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Marvin Donahue Smith; her husband and best friend of 65 years, Claire Stevens; and a sister, Mary Alice Smith Beasley.

Avonelle is survived by two sisters, Clara Bernice Burt of Salt Lake City and Martha Ann Smith (Garry) Jenkins of Tucson; her daughter, Linda (Stephen) Kocher of Kingman; two grandsons, Roger (Kristen) Pfeiffer of Lawton, Okla., and Jim (Kiersten) Murphy of Phoenix; and five great-grandchildren, Ethan, Aidan, Summer, Camryn and Declan. Avonelle is also survived by her two sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law, Marjorie Boutelle of Squim, Wash., and Bertha and Bill Lamb of Kingman; a son, Keith (Toni) Stevens of Kingman; and a granddaughter, Julie Russo of California. Avonelle leaves behind many friends who will truly miss her.

There are no plans for a funeral service. Memorial contributions can be made to KRMC Hospice at 1812 Airway Ave., Kingman, AZ 86409, in remembrance of Avonelle Stevens.